It is unclear whether Public Protector can recommend amending Constitution

Lorraine Burke

Absa said in a statement it had not received a copy of the report and denied any wrongdoing, saying it "met all its obligations in respect of the loan provided by the South African Reserve Bank by October 1995".

At the same event, Mkhwebane said she will oppose a bid by President Jacob Zuma to have set aside a report on claims of influence-peddling by him and his government.

On Sunday, DA MP and justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach said that with the flurry of reports uncovering state capture, it was more important than ever for the public protector to investigate and report without fear or favour.

The NGO says the bailout was illegal and there was evidence of maladministration by the new South African government.

"Therefore, on receiving the responses of all those who were implicated. that's why the report is totally changed from what was originally leaked to the media", Mkhwebane said. Instead of directing that the money be recovered with interest, Mkhwebane has now instructed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to reopen a probe into the matter.

The Public Protector has probed allegations that CIEX, a covert United Kingdom-based asset recovery agency headed by Michael Oatley, was contracted by Pretoria to assist in investigating and recovering misappropriated public funds and assets allegedly committed during the reign of the apartheid regime. The request was made through the South African Secret Service.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, an anti-graft watchdog, recommended constitutional changes to make the central bank promote economic growth rather than currency and price stability.

The Reserve Bank was not available to comment.

It will now be up to the SIU to uncover the public funds which were "unlawfully given" to Absa, as Mkhwebane has found.

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